Reason 1 - If you draft Manziel, you get a guy who is real good at running the ball. You will make a playbook designed to his strengths. If he gets hurt, you will want a QB to step in that can play the same style of football. This way, the offense doesn't have to learn a completely new playbook while Manziel is out.Although Tim Tebow isn't the exact same QB as Manziel, he is surely as close to Manziel that you can find as a back-up. You can use the same playbook with Tebow as with Manziel. Just use a few more running plays and a few less passing plays.
Reason 2 - Manziel is a QB that can extend plays and pick up long runs. He's going to get hit a lot and he's going to get hit hard. Add to that he is a smaller guy (compared to other NFL players), Manziel could get hurt easily. You're going to want a QB that can keep you in the playoff picture (if that's where you are) and that you won't have to change your entire offensive scheme.
Reason 3 - How about actually playing Tebow for a fourth of the game or a third of the game. This way, not only is Tim Tebow your "fire insurance" if Maziel misses any time, but he can also be a "fire prevention." You can keep Maziel's snap count down. Keep his hits down. This will keep Manziel from being hurt in the first place.
If you drafted Maziel, you probably will want him to be your franchise QB. That means he needs to play more than a few years. Keeping a small, running quarterback healthy for a long time is near impossible (ask RGII or Vick). Inserting Tebow for a chunk of minutes each game could help keep Manziel not only stay healthy, but fresher too. Many NFL players, especially rookies, tend to run out of gas in the end of the year.Whether you think Tebow is a "good quarterback" or not, we do know that he went 9-3 with the Broncos starter including a playoff win in a system set up for him. Tebow, at the least, can be a productive back-up QB in a system that is conducive to his style of play.
